Adama Traore is absent for Aston Villa's match against Sunderland this afternoon, following an ankle knock picked up by the winger in Tuesday's League Cup fixture against Notts County.

Alan Hutton is recalled for the hosts, with Leandro Bacuna moving from right-back to the wing.

Rudy Gestede will start up front as a lone striker for Villa, with Jordan Ayew and Libor Kozak named on the substitutes bench.

Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat has recalled Younes Kaboul to the starting XI, with Sebastien Coates named on the bench.

Danny Graham will start alongside Jeremain Lens and Jermaine Defoe up front for the Black Cats, while new signing Ola Toivonen is a substitute.

Aston Villa: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi; Bacuna, Gueye, Westwood, Sanchez, Sinclair; Gestede
Subs: Bunn, Bennett, Gil, Cole, Veretout, Kozak, Ayew

Sunderland: Pantilimon; Jones, O'Shea, Kaboul, van Aanholt; Cattermole, M'Vila, Rodwell; Lens, Graham, Defoe
Subs: Mannone, Larsson, Toivonen, Coates, Fletcher, Watmore, Gooch

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